The Truth About Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an essential, highly benefical, fat-soluble, nutrient with very powerful antioxidant properties.  The primary role of vitamin E is to prevent free-radical damage (lipid peroxidation) and protect the integrity of cellular tissues and cell membranes. This role is especially important in the lungs and red blood cells which are particularly susceptible to oxidative damage. Oxidative damage is one of the primary causes of the common pathologies seen in aging.  Rampant oxidative damage is one of the primary processes in the development of cancer.

Incidently, one of the simplest ways to test for oxidative damage of the DNA is to measure urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).  The higher the level of 8-OHdG found, the more DNA damage is present.  Even in people considered “healthy”, when the intake of mixed antioxidant supplements including vitamin E is increased, it reduces 8-OHdG by 22% compared with those not taking the supplements.

Everything I am saying about vitamin E here, refers to vitamin E in the naturally occuring d-alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherol form, including the 4 forms of tocotrienols.

Do you want a clue whether your vitamin supplements are high quality? Check the quality of the vitamin E in them. Lowest quality supplements typically have vitamin E in the form of dl-alpha-tocopherol, which is a synthetic form. The best ones are those with vitamin E in mixed combinations of d-alpha-tocopherol, d-beta-tocopherol, d-gamma-tocopherol, d-delta-tocopherol, and four additional tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta). The ones with combinations of some of these, but not all, are lower quality but better than those containing dl-alpha-tocopherol.

Just remember: the L in DL-Alpha-Tocopherol is for Lousy!

Vitamin E supplements contain varied forms of the vitamin. Not all forms have the same beneficial properties. In fact, from reviewing the research literature, one could come to a reasonable, though erroneous, conclusion that certain forms of vitamin E are associated with a slightly increased risk of all-cause mortality.

When reviewing research studies, the truth can be found in the details of the study.  Some study designs are very flawed.  For instance, a study that came out of the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2004 was widely publicized in popular media.  That study was a meta-analysis of 19 randomized, placebo controlled trials using 400 IU/day of d-alpha-tocopherol and dl-alpha-tocopherol given to the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases.  The study showed that there was a slightly increased risk for all-cause mortality in those taking 400 IU/day of both forms of alpha-tocopherol.  However, those trained in biochemistry and nutrition know that vitamins should not be taken as isolated nutrients, especially antioxidants.   A knowledgeable nutritionist also knows that increased oxidative damage is expected in the elderly and those with chronic disease, therefore, taking an isolated antioxidant would be even more damaging. You need synergistic combinations of nutrients, as they are found in nature from foods.  When you take one isolated antioxidant, it becomes a pro-oxidant.  In other words, it increases oxidative damage.  The oxidative damage is predictably worse with the synthetic form of alpha tocopherol (the dl) because it actually impairs the absorption of the healthy forms of vitamin E, the mixed tocopherols (d-alpha, beta, gamma, and delta).  Many of the mainstream studies are using the dl-form of alpha-tocopherol, because it is cheap and readily available.  These are also the reasons why many vitamin companies use them.  Therefore, when you see headlines such as “Vitamin E Increases Risk of All Cause Mortality”, take that with a significant amount of skepticism.

The bottom line is when using vitamin E, or any type of nutrition supplements, the specific form of the nutrients make all the difference in benefits.  Typically, the vast majority of health information released in popular media are either biased, often favoring “big pharma”, or flawed.  You must check whether the information is based on valid scientific research.  When it comes to nutrition supplements, consult a Certified Cinical Nutritionist (CCN).  CCNs are well-trained in diet, nutrition, and supplements.  Their ability to help people restore and improve their health significantly depends on sound reviews of published research studies on nutrients.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN, ABAAHP. All rights reserved.